Improvement in labeling-machines



J. BIGELOW.

LABELING-MACHINE.

No.185,719, Patented Dec. 26, 1876.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JONATHAN BIGELOW, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVEMENT IN LABELING-MACHINES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 185.719, dated December26, 1876; application filed January 7, 1876.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JONATHAN BIG-ELOW, ofBoston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Labeling-Machines, ofwhich the following is a specification:

Figure 1 is a top-plan view, Fig. 2 a side elevation, and Fig. 3 avertical longitudinal section, of my improved labeling machine. Fig. 4is a detail perspective view.

The invention is an improvement in that class of labeling machines orapparatus in which the paste and label are applied to the can as itrolls down an inclined plane of which the paste-bed and label-holderform apart.

The invention relates to several features of improvement, as hereinafterset forth and claimed.

The frame B of the apparatus is supported upon legs A at an inclinationof about ten degrees. The paste-bed D, label-holder G, and planefinishing-surface or ways L are severally secured to the frame B bymeans of clampbolts (J, which pass through lengthwise slots, as shown inFig. 3. Said parts D G L are, therefore, severally adjustable on theframe B. The cans are placed upon a tray orfountain, D, which issupported horizontally upon the upper end of the paste-bed D, and islikewise made adjustable thereon to vary its position with relation tothe paste-bed, and thus enable the cans to be rolled over more or lessof the surface of the latter as required to apply the paste to largerand smaller cans. For example, if the can to be pasted -is of largesize, it requires to roll over a longer paste-bed than asmaller can, inorder to make a complete rotation, and thus apply the paste to itsentire circumference. The adjustment of the holder D, therefore,practically lengthens or short ens the paste-bed D, as required,according to the size of cans to be pasted. The bed is covered bysuitable material for absorbing a quantity of paste and transferring itto the cans as they roll over it. The labels are laid in a pack upon theholder G,with their lower ends against the inclined plate a, by whichtheir upper ends are caused to successively project or overlap eachother, from the upper one of the pack to the lowermost thereof. By thisarrangement of the labels I avoid the annoyance and loss of materialheretofore caused by the cans picking up more than one label-in otherwords, by the adhesion of two labels to the same cansimultane0usly-since, in the present case, the upper edge of the topmostlabel will alone come in contact with and adhere to the can as it rollsover the pack. In addition to the plate a, for holding the labels inplace, I employ the guides H H, which press against the sides of thelabels. The same are beveled or curved on the upper edge and supportedon springs, to enable the can to pass over and depress them as it rollsover the label-pack. The lower end U of the holder G is supported upon ascrew, T, provided with a ratchet-wheel, S, which is rotatedintermittently by the pawl R and levers M immediately after a can haspassed over the labels and taken up the top one of the layer, thusraising the holderGsufficiently to bring the next label up to the properheight to be received by the next can. The paste is applied to the lowerend of the labels by a roller, J, attached to curved rods or arms N,which are pivoted to levers M. The latter project above the bed or waysL, and, as the can strikes against them in its descent, they aredepressed, as shown in Fig. 3, thus operating the ratchetS and causingthe roller J to pass up the inclined side of paste-trough I and rollover the contiguous end of the uppermost label. When the can has passedoff the ways L the retracting-spring V causes the levers M and roller Jto resume their former position, Fig. 2, and thus remain until the nextcan causes a repetition of the operation. In such position the ends K ofthe rods N rest on the labels and enable the can to pass over therollerJ without difliculty. The object of thus pasting the end of thetop label is to enable it to adjere when overlapping the other end onthe can. The can is guided in its descent over the inclined bed or frameby means of parallel rods E E, supported by curved arms F F, which areattached to the ends of the frame by means of clamp-nuts and boltspassing through slots, as shown in Fig. 4, to adapt the rods foradjustment toward or from each other according to the size of the cansbeing labeled. One set of arms, F, is provided with inclined slots b, inorder to allow the rod E to have sufficient play to yield toinequalities and projections on a can, and yet resume its originalposition as soon as such can has passed.

What I claim is- 1. The can-holder, made adjustable, as described, incombination with the paste-bed, as and for the purpose specified.

2. The combination, with cam-guides,0f supporting-arms having inclinedslats, as shown and described, for the purpose specified.

3. The combination, with the label-holder, of the inclined plate a forsupporting the lower ends of the labels and causing their upper ends tooverlap, as specified,

4. The combination of the spring-supported side guides with thelabel-holder, substantially as described, for the purpose specified.

JONATHAN BIGELOW.

Witnesses:

SYLvENUs WALKER, H. S. TALBOT.

